Dallas Cowboys Blog

Dez Bryant: I’m still learning, but hopefully I can be one of the best

Dez Bryant is as gifted a wide receiver as there is in the NFL. He possesses good size, elite hands and strength, outstanding leaping ability and 4.4-speed in the 40-yard dash.

However, through his first two NFL seasons, despite his numbers improving, Bryant’s production on the field hasn’t met the lofty expectations bestowed upon him.

Throughout the last few months, Bryant has said that he feels faster and stronger. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said last month that he has witnessed consistent improvement from Bryant.

Many believe the key to that improvement is Bryant working hard not only on the field but also in the film room. According to Bryant, his studying has included watching tape on some of the best receivers in the game. Bryant said those receivers include teammate Miles Austin, Houston’s Andre Johnson, Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald and Carolina’s Steve Smith.

“I try to watch film and take bits and pieces from their game and try to use it with my game, just try to mix it up a little better,” Bryant told high school football players Friday at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas. “I feel like I’m still learning. Hopefully, I can go down and be one of the best one day.”

While speaking with reporters shortly after that, Bryant said that he has felt more comfortable each year he’s been in the league. Even with the lockout-shortened off-season last year, Bryant said he felt more comfortable than he did the year before.

“I guess each year I feel a little more comfortable,” Bryant said. “It just makes me want to go out and just play more and more and more. I want to continue to keep learning because I feel the more I learn, the better and the slower the game gets, which is a good thing.”

In other Bryant-related news, during a question-and-answer session with the high school players, he said he looks forward to going back to school and getting his degree. Bryant played two full seasons at Oklahoma State before declaring for the NFL Draft. Asked what he’d be doing if he wasn’t in the NFL, Bryant responded that he’d likely be a football coach.

“I cannot see myself without football in my life,” Bryant said. “I love it to death. I got to have it. I cannot let anyone take it away from me. I get kind of selfish when it comes to football.”